The anterior fourteen somites of the Decapod body, consisting of the six cephalon somites and the 8 thoracic somites. These fourteen somites are fused to a single entity and the division between them can only rarely be observed (e.g., on the thoracic sternum). As each of the somites bears a single pair of appendages, the position of the fused somites can be ascertained by the position of these appendages. See also cephalon and thorax. Sometimes, but incorrectly so, the term cephalothorax is used instead of carapace.